Church of Jesus Christ opposes abortion measure in a second state

Leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have joined Catholics and others in opposition to an abortion initiative in a second state, according to a letter sent last week.

“We join with other like-minded individuals and organizations working against this initiative,” the church’s U.S. Southwest Area Presidency stated in the letter.

Leaders in another area presidency of the church asked Latter-day Saints in Idaho in a separate letter to oppose a ballot measure that would establish a right to abortion in that state.

The Nevada Catholic Conference is campaigning against the amendment, according to the Diocese of Reno. Catholic bishops have sent letters and made videos to rally parishes to oppose “this dangerous initiative that threatens the dignity, safety, and rights of women, children and families.”

The Deseret News confirmed the authenticity of the letter from Latter-day Saints to the church’s 339 congregations in Nevada. It was signed by Elders Michael A. Dunn, Joaquin E. Costa and Pedro X. Larreal, who serve as General Authority Seventies.

The three leaders directed local church leaders in the letter to read it from the pulpit during worship services on the final two Sundays of September.

Nevada Question 6, known as the Right to Abortion initiative, is on the Nov. 3 ballot. It would amend the state constitution to establish a right to abortion. The measure passed in 2024 with 64% of the vote. Nevada law requires citizen-initiated constitutional amendments to pass in two consecutive, even-year general elections.

The letters used similar language.

“(We) encourage our members to voice their opposition to it in a respectful manner consistent with prophetic direction of always demonstrating Christlike love and civility in political discourse,” the two area presidencies stated.

Ten states have established rights to abortion since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the federal right to abortion in 2022.

Those states are Arizona, California, Colorado, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Ohio, New York and Vermont, according to Ballotpedia.

There are two other abortion initiatives on state ballots this fall. One would restrict abortion and the other would establish a right to abortion.

Missouri’s ballot includes Amendment 3, which would reverse the 2024 measure that established a right to abortion in that state, according to EWTN News. The initiative would ban abortion with exceptions for rape, incest and medical emergencies.

Virginia, the only state in the South not to ban abortion at or before 12 weeks of pregnancy, will vote on Question 1, which would establish a right to “reproductive freedom.” Abortion is legal in the state in the first and second trimesters, and the initiative would enshrine that in the state constitution, EWTN reported.

The Church of Jesus Christ has not weighed in on the Missouri amendment or the Virginia question.

Abortion is legal in Nevada up to 24 weeks under a 1990 statutory voter referendum, according to Ballotpedia. Question 6 would establish a fundamental right to abortion in the state constitution until fetal viability or at any point during pregnancy if necessary to protect the life or health of the pregnant patient.

Latter-day Saint policy is to avoid abortion except in cases of rape, incest or danger to a mother’s or baby’s health.

The Church of Jesus Christ maintains a political neutrality policy in individual races for office but regularly states that it reserves the right to weigh in on matters of morality.

“With respect to several current U.S. state ballot initiatives relative to abortion and sanctity for life, the church affirms that its position on abortion remains unchanged,” church leaders said in an official 2024 statement.

“Abortion is a most serious matter,” an official church webpage states. “It should be considered only after the persons responsible have received confirmation through prayer. Members may counsel with their bishops as part of this process.”